While the Euro 2004 is just a few weeks over, and the Coppa America is still going on, we surely can look ahead at the most exciting event to come in only two years. Here are the groups, what do we think? Discuss!

Group 1: Holland is in the worst group imaginable. First of all the Czechs. Those bloody Czechs again. I envision Holland getting only one point from them in the home game, and getting ourselves hammered (again!) in Prague. Finland is not the strongest of teams, but they can prove tricky, and Romania has a good reputation as well. The other countries I don't know, and don't really fear, but that Holland is in a strong group is for sure.

Group 2: A confrontation between the new European champion Greece and their arch enemy Turkey (came in third at the WC 2002, but missed EURO 2004 due to Latvia) will prove interesting for sure. Of course the Turks are more than willing to prove that they are better than Greece. Honor's at stake here. I'm looking forward to those games between those two countries. Denmark could be the outsider in this group, profiting

Group 3: Easy one for Portugal. Mind those Russians though.

Group 4: Easy one for France, although their fame has gone downhill enormously. Again against Cypres... Ireland will have a difficult time, but they should be able to beat Switzerland in the race for second place. Israel, hm, what to think of those guys?

Group 5: Italy has a win-lose group. They could loose to teams like Scotland and Norway, but beat them just as easily. If they keep focussed, it shouldn't be too hard.

Group 6: I think some of the groups are made up badly. Just take a look at England now. At first sight it seems to be a tricky group, but we all know in the end that they will qualify easily. Even though some 'neighbours' are present in the group, good for some heavy confrontations, I still think England got a fairly easy group. Too easy.

Group 7: Same goes for Spain. Now what exactly did they do to get into a group as easy as this one? The results of the national Spanish team is to cry about, but they are allowed to come to Germany through a wide open door. I hope Belgium can stunt against them.

Group 8: Interesting group. Bulgaria, Sweden and Croatia can all beat each other. But who will do it?

I don't know how it goes for number two teams in the ranking. I sure hope Holland will make it at number two, and of course I would like to see Greece return to a big tournament as well. I hope Belgium and Ireland will do well too.

(Strawman:) I'm hoping for a better advert for football in the next World Cup than that of the recent dire performances of the European sides in Portugal.

You're kidding? That was one of the best tournaments ever. Wonderful attacking and skillful football in many games, especially at the group stages. The ugly teams were filtered off early (unlucky exception: Spain), and the better teams fought off the second best teams in the next rounds. Of course some might argue that the final was a bit of a let down, but then again most finals are. And though Greece were certainly not the most attractive team it was still good to watch their spirit and their organisation.

Furthermore the overall atmosphere was extremely positive, especially with almost zero hooliganism going down in Portugal.

Great tournament. Definitely.

Okay, here are my predictions for the European groups:

Group 1From today's point of view we should certainly fancy the Czechs. But I am not sure if the likes of Nedved, Poborsky and Koller haven't gone past their prime with the end of Euro 2004. Still it should be enough to hold down the Dutch who will come up with a fresh team and manager but who tend to miss out on World Cups. So I say:

1 Czechs2 Netherlands

Romania will certainly have a word in there and also the Finns will certainly not give the big guns an easy pass.

Group 2Tough call. Can Greece repeat the miracle of Portugal? I have my doubts, the other big teams will have learned their lesson. So I say:

1 Denmark 2 Turkey

The Turks will do all they can to make up for miserably failing to qualify for Euro 2004 and furthermore to fall behind the old enemy Greece. If the Turkish key players are fit they will be as strong as in WC 2002.

This group's nasty stumbling block: Albania. Believe it or not. With their German manager Hans-Peter Briegel (won the Euro 1980, runner-up in the WCs 1982 and 1986 with Germany) they will be in for some surprises and hard work.

Group 3Nothing spectacular here:

1 Portugal2 Russia

Latvia will not make it this time.

Group 4The obvious choices:

1 France2 Ireland

Switzerland may cause a few problems but won't be good enough to go through.

Group 5Easy:

1 Italy2 Norway

Scotland will go out in shame and will finally have to drop German super-fool Berti Vogts from the manager's position. And the person who hired him should be sent down the coal mines. If he isn't already there.

Group 6Difficult to see who comes second. Number one is of course

1 England2 Wales

Austria and Poland are way too erratic in their performances so I give Wales a chance, if they can perform as well spirited and top fit as they have in many tough games they played with Germany over the decades.

Group 7This could be a tight group. Two favourites (Spain, Belgium) but two good outsiders as well (Serbia, Bosnia). As I tend to belive in surprises I say

1 Spain2 Serbia

Group 8Noone will stop the Swedish here. But who is second best? If Bulgaria learn their lessons from the EURO they have potentially the best team, but will they defend this time?. Croatia have a new manager and are always a tough beast, but their key players are not getting younger. So I say

1 Sweden2 Bulgaria

Iceland will stir up some trouble, but not more. Hungary have Lothar Matthäus but I severely doubt that he is another Otto Rehhagel.

Is there a team from Europe which you would favour to win the title in 2006? Not really, I would say, as the Czechs and France will have to find new teams while England, Denmark and the other European upper-middleclass teams don't seem to have the potential to really shock a team like Brazil.

You're kidding? That was one of the best tournaments ever. Wonderful attacking and skillful football in many games, especially at the group stages. The ugly teams were filtered off early (unlucky exception: Spain), and the better teams fought off the second best teams in the next rounds. Of course some might argue that the final was a bit of a let down, but then again most finals are. And though Greece were certainly not the most attractive team it was still good to watch their spirit and their organisation.

EJ? Your enthusiasm & optimistic approach are creditable but unrealistic in this instance. See if you can find & watch footage of former European Championships, then come back and tell me in all honesty that the 2004 tournament was anything other than under par?

The very fact that most of the sides played with one up front with usual attacking flankers taking defensive/midfield positions suggests that your summarisation of events is a ripe old heap of bollocks.